Mobile identity now opening even more doors for college students

We use multiple identity instruments many times per week without much thought and, for the most part, college students are a great example of identity consumers. Students typically use a single identity document for many daily functions such as food service, dorm entry and exams, and event participation registration.

Next-level student identification

IBM has teamed up with Marist College and Lenel, a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, to pilot Blue Door, a feature added to the Marist digital identity card. This card allows students to have keyless entry to access-privileged doors as part of their identity. This is a key element of the larger mobile-convenience solution being proved out by IBM and Marist and builds on the existing Marist credential infrastructure anchored by the Lenel® OnGuard® access control platform and leverages the Lenel BlueDiamond™ mobile framework.

IBM digital identity has a great advantage over the current paper or plastic card implementation — it allows the user to share only pieces of their personally identifiable information (PII), referred to as identity traits, separate from the whole. This ability to control traits enables IBM to add the new Blue Door trait to the digital Marist ID card and enable an individual to have door access control with their mobile phones. The new trait is seamlessly integrated into their Marist ID card and inherits the benefits of life-cycle management for access privileges and revocation of door access. IBM digital identity is more than transferring physical, printed information to digital. It is a solution beyond the vision of others in this space, providing trait-based control and disconnected operation when WiFi and cell service is not available.

Student tested

During this pilot, Marist students installed the IBM Mobile Identity app on their mobile devices and acquired their campus ID from the university. They were then able to gain access to a restricted lab by bringing up their digital campus ID and tapping on their Blue Door trait in close proximity, sending a signal to the reader. As part of that ID, the Blue Door trait to open privilege access doors operates in the context of the user’s authorization by the university. Assuming the student has the proper access level in the Lenel OnGuard access control system, the door opens.

Almost everyone carries their phones everywhere, especially college students. Digital campus ID cards can now open doors as well as provide access to food services and other services beyond just identity. With the ability to work disconnected easily extended with new traits, we see the mobile campus ID providing all of the capabilities of the plastic card but also having the flexibility which can only be achieved digitally to enhance functionality quickly and efficiently.

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